Artist description traditional klezmer with just a hint of rock

Music Style klezmer

Musical Influences Klezmatics, Shloinke, Naftule Brandwein, and La'om

Similar Artists Klezmatics, Shloinke, Naftule Brandwein, La'om, traditional klezmer

Artist History Yid Vicious is a humble, hardworking klezmer ensemble based in Madison, Wisconsin. We perform regularly at special events, public venues, and private functions throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois. The band was formed in late 1995 in Wizard of Oz-like fashion through a serendipitous series of chance encounters. The music on our debut CD, "Klez, Kez, Goy mit Fez", consists mainly of klezmer standards. In recording these tunes, we have tried to put our own stamp ont hem, without stripping them of their traditional flavor. Mostly, we're just trying to have fun playing music that we really like. At that, we'realready a huge success. Our second CD, "Forverts!" shows off the new line-up (we've had some departures and additions) and shows us stretching out a little bit. You can hear tinges of country and modern composition as well as vocals (ourselves and Anna Purnell from the Reptile Palace Orchestra) and, of course, a huge serving of good old fashioned klezmer fun. Dig in!

Group Members Christina Baade, Daithi Wolfe, Dave Austin, Jonathan Pollack, Mike Pollay, Timm Gould, and Bill Solomon

Instruments clarinet, fiddle, trumpet, flugabone, baritone horn, accordion, percussion, guitar, and electrified bass

Albums Klez, Kez, Goy mit Fez, Forverts!

Press Reviews If you're looking to add some zest to the party, look no further than Yid Vicious' criminally spry Klez, Kez, Goy Mit Fez (Uvulittle). The Music of the shtetl as translated by the melting pot, Americanklezmer has been used, transfused and, sadly, abused in recent years by all manner of hipsters and serious musicians. Yid Vicious, a more or less traditional outfit, fall into the latter camp.They're not out to funk up classics like like "Nokh a Glezl Vayn" and "Devil's Sher," and they don't try to use them as the "exotic" basis for Eastern European-tinged jazz improvisations. Instead of engaging insuch predictable shenanigans, the hopped-up seven-piece sets its sights on the pulse of the dance, then lets the music (much of it traditional, all of it celebratory) work its magic.The liner notes indicate that the band has taken some of its cues from flamboyant clarinet legend Naftule Brandwein, and the master's capacity to thrill with an unexpected dip or swoop definitely has left itsmark on Christina Baade's own licorice stick. The heart of the disc, though, is Bob Jacobson's wonderfully robust euphonium; each of his fat, puffy lines courses with the electricity of real life. - Tom Laskin, Isthmus

Location Madison, WI - USA

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